Prison population hits five year low

Monday 18 June 2018

The average daily population at HMP La Moye hit a five year low in 2017 with 136 inmates compared to 157 in 2012, figures released as part of the prison’s annual report show.

The number of inmates has been consistently decreasing over the past five years - in 2017 the maximum peaked at 144 in comparison to 170, while the minimum decreased from 142 in 2012 to 124.

In total, 258 new inmates were admitted to the prison in 2017, 241 of them were men. No juveniles were admitted to La Moye during the year while the number of young offenders remained low, with 10 admissions on remand and only 2 convicted.

Pictured: Changing prison numbers since 2012.

La Moye had a total of 14 prisoner-on-prisoner assaults in 2017, an increase compared to last year although officers said none of them was serious. "Levels of violence in La Moye continued to be very low," notes the report. The number of assaults equates to one to every 10 prisoner, in the UK there is one to every four prisoners.

Pictured: Bill Millar MBE, who is stepping down in August.

In his introduction to the report, Prison Governor Bill Millar MBE, who will be stepping down in August, said: " The Prison was inspected by HMCIP for England and Wales in September and we received what the Chief Inspector described as 'a good report on a good prison.'

"In HMCIP’s Annual Report for 2016/17, 31 closed prisons were inspected and none of them received the highest level of assessment in regard to aspects of the prison regime brigaded under ‘Respect’ and only 2 prisons (both of which are C category prisons dedicated to working with sex offenders) received the highest level of assessment for ‘Safety’. La Moye received the highest level of assessment in both these areas."

Among the areas of the success at La Moye is the percentage of inmates,15%, taking part in open learning. The report notes: "This is considered to be a high percentage by general UK standards, according to the Prisoners’ Education Trust, which is a UK charity that provides funding for Open Learning courses throughout UK prisons."

After six years of study, one prisoner gained an upper second class degree in Philosophy and Psychological studies while another four were working on Open University degree courses. All received over 85% in their initial assignments which equates to a “first” at degree level.